Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T Proxies: Does the Carrier Matter?
What changes when a US mobile proxy runs on Verizon, T-Mobile or AT&T, what stays the same, and when the choice of carrier affects the result.
Key takeaways
Each carrier has its own address space: Verizon AS6167, T-Mobile USA AS21928, AT&T Mobility AS20057.
IP databases classify all three as mobile carriers, so sites treat them in the same way.
The carrier matters for ads and offers aimed at one carrier's subscribers, and for spreading a project across networks.
In other cases, choose the carrier that has a free device in the location you need.
Quick comparison
| Factor | Verizon | T-Mobile | AT&T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network registered as | AS6167, Verizon | AS21928, T-Mobile USA | AS20057, AT&T Mobility |
| Classified by IP databases as | Mobile carrier | Mobile carrier | Mobile carrier |
| IPv4 for subscribers | Shared through carrier NAT | Provided over an IPv6 network through translation | Shared through carrier NAT |
| Typical reason to choose it | Ads and offers aimed at Verizon subscribers | IPv6 tasks, ads aimed at T-Mobile subscribers | Ads and offers aimed at AT&T subscribers |
What changes when you change the carrier
Each US carrier announces its mobile network under its own autonomous system number. A site that looks up your address sees the carrier's name and network, so a Verizon proxy, a T-Mobile proxy and an AT&T proxy appear as three different networks.
The addresses also come from different pools. A restriction that a site places on part of one carrier's address space does not apply to the other two.
“For most tasks the carrier makes no difference. Where it does matter, it decides the result.”
What stays the same
IP databases classify all three carriers as mobile networks. A site that weighs the type of connection sees the same type in each case.
Each carrier places many subscribers behind shared public addresses, so the caution sites apply to carrier addresses applies to all three.
The product around the carrier does not change either: one device per customer, a new IP on demand and the same terms.
When the carrier matters
Ads and offers aimed at one carrier. Mobile advertising is often bought per carrier, and carriers run their own promotions. Checking what a Verizon subscriber sees requires a Verizon address.
Spreading a project across networks. If several accounts run through one carrier, a restriction on that carrier's addresses can affect all of them. Two or three carriers reduce that risk.
Location coverage. Carriers have devices in different cities. If the location matters more than the carrier, the available device decides.
Verizon
The Verizon mobile network is registered as AS6167. We checked a device in Houston: its traffic resolved to AS6167, Verizon Business, Houston, Texas. Verizon is the default choice when a task targets Verizon subscribers or needs one of the locations where Verizon devices are installed.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile USA is registered as AS21928. The carrier runs its mobile network on IPv6 and gives subscribers IPv4 access through translation (464XLAT), so IPv4 sites see a T-Mobile address shared by many subscribers. For tasks that need an IPv6 address from a US carrier, a T-Mobile device with IPv6 support is the natural choice.
AT&T
AT&T Mobility is registered as AS20057. AT&T home internet uses a different network, AS7018, so an AT&T mobile proxy is identified as a mobile connection and not as a home line. Choose AT&T when a task targets AT&T subscribers or one of the locations AT&T covers.
How to check which carrier a proxy uses
Send a request through the proxy to any IP lookup service and read the ASN and organisation fields. The ASN should match the carrier you bought: AS6167 for Verizon, AS21928 for T-Mobile and AS20057 for AT&T.
Many services also show a connection type, which for a carrier address reads mobile or cellular.
Frequently asked
Not in general. All three US carriers are classified as mobile networks. The carrier matters when a task depends on one network, for example ads aimed at its subscribers.
No. The carrier, the location and the device are fixed for the term. A different carrier requires a new order.
T-Mobile, which runs its mobile network on IPv6. Turn on the IPv6 filter on the buy page to receive a device that has an IPv6 address.
On the USA mobile proxies page and on each carrier page. Stock changes during the day, and the tables show when a taken device is expected to be free.